This is a “Boulders in Valleys” puzzle (beforehand referred to as “Balls on Hills”). It’s much like Slitherlink and Corral; your objective is to attract a path alongside grid cell edges that partitions the grid into two areas. This could be a closed loop, or a path that begins and ends on the grid boundary. The clues are based mostly on the instinct of a boulder rolling down a hill right into a valley. There is a novel resolution, and it’s best to be capable of use logic to seek out it.

Penpa Link

Path Rules

1. The resolution is a single, non-self-intersecting path that partitions the grid into two zones (whether or not by looping or beginning and ending on the grid boundary)

2. The path travels alongside grid edges (like Slitherlink) inside the grid boundary

3. There is just one path that matches the constraints

Clue Rules

1. There is a boulder at each quantity. The worth of the quantity signifies the deepest depth the boulder may roll right down to. It should roll right down to this depth alongside not less than one path, nevertheless it doesn’t should roll right down to this depth alongside each path.

2. Arrows point out path of gravity for the boulder.

3. Grid boundary stops the boulder as if it had been a part of the curve.

Mechanics of Rolling Boulders

1. A boulder can roll “down” any nook, and fall straight “down” if there isn’t a edge beneath it (“down” outlined with respect to gravity).

2. A boulder can not roll “up” (in opposition to gravity) a wall or alongside two “horizontal” (perpendicular to gravity) segments in a row (the hill could be too shallow!).

3. Boulders don’t intrude with one another (i.e. they will go by way of one another, overlap one another, and many others)

Green signifies the trail that the deepest boulder took. The instance in purple is an unimaginable scenario, because the deepest path (2) is deeper than the quantity on the boulder (1).

This is the third Boulders in Valleys puzzle. It was beforehand referred to as Balls on Hills; because of Beastly Gerbil for the title suggestion. It was additionally very tempting to name this “Valleyball”, however “Boulders in Valleys” sounded extra relaxed.

In the long run I’ll make extra of those, however I’ll solely publish those which have an fascinating gimmick (similar to fascinating clue placement/resolution form or a mix with one other puzzle).